Electric gas ignitor



April s, 1969l F. PROFUNSER ELEGTRIGGAS IGNITOR x-*iea Feb. 1- 16, 1967 INVENTOR. FRANZ PROFUNSER I symb; M

' ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,437,880 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 Int. Cl. F23q 7/10 U.S. Cl. 317-98 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE. DISCLOSURE A gas ignitor having an electrically conductive filament which when energized is capable of igniting a combustible gas. The filament is carried by an electrode means which with the filament forms part of an electrical circuit which, when closed, energizes the filament to ignite a gas therewith. A support means carries the electrode means with the filament situated beyond and spaced from the support means, and an elongated hollow tube is carried by the support means surrounding the filament. This tube has an inner end fixed to the support means and it is at the region of this inner end that the filament is located, the tube having distant from its inner end an outer open end and being formed in the region of its inner end with at least one opening passing through a wall portion of the tube so that the combustible gas can flow along the interior of the tube to engage the filament to be ignited thereby when energized. The tube has an outwardly flaring configuration at its outer end to promote the fiow of the gas through the tube. Also, the tube is straight and of substantial length so that when the operator uses the ignitor he will be protected from a flame at the outer end of the tube. The filament is in the form of a spiral and preferably made of an alloy of platinum and iridium.

The present invention relates to gas ignitors.

More particularly, the present invention relates to that type of gas ignitor where a combustible gas is adapted to be ignited -by a filament when an electrical circuit in which the filament is located is closed so as to energize the filament.

Although gas ignitors of this general type are known, the conventional gas ignitors suffer from several drawbacks. Thus, the gas-igniting filament of the known structures are relatively unprotected and are subject to easy damage. Moreover, when the filament of the known structures breaks down, it is difiicult to replace it with a new filament. Also, these filaments of the known structures frequently do break down and require replacement. In addition, the electrical circuits which are connected to the filaments of the known structures are relatively complex and expensive. It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a gas ignitor of the above general type which will avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a gas ignitor which will provide for the filament a far greater protection than is provided by conventional gas ignitors.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a gas ignitor with a structure which makes it easy to replace a filament whenever required.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a gas ignitor with a relatively simple inexpensive construction, particularly at those components thereof which form the electrical circuit in which the filament is located.

Also, it is lan object of the present invention to provide a gas ignitor which will reliably protect the operator from a flame.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a filament which will not readily break down.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, the gas ignitor includes an electrically conductive filament which, when energized, is capableof igniting a combustible gas. An electrode means carries the filament and forms therewith part of an electrical circuit which when closed will energize the filament. A support means carries the electrode means with the filament spaced from and situated beyond the support means. An elongated hollow tube of the invention is fixedly carried by the support means and surrounds the filament. This tube of the present invention has an inner end fixed to the support means and an outer end distant therefrom, and it is at the region of the inner end of the tube that the filament is located, the tube being formed at the region of its inner end with at least one opening providing communication between the interior and exterior of the tube so that a gas can flow through the opening and through the open outer end of the tube past the filament to be ignited thereby when the filament is energized. The tube of the present invention is straight and of substantial length and the outer end of the tube is of an outwardly flaring configuration promoting the flow of the gas through the tube.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one possible embodiment of a gas ignitor according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 taken along line Il II of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a partly sectional elevation of another embodiment of a gas ignitor according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of part of the structure of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown therein a hollow battery casing 1 made of a plastic, electrically non-conductive material and having a top closed end and a bottom open end. Within the casing 1 is situated a battery 2 having opposed poles A and B.

The battery casing 1 is removably connected with a support means 3 which is also made of a plastic, electrically non-conductive material, and this support means 3 has a hollow interior with which the hollow interior of the casing 1 communicates. For the purpose of providing a removable connection between the casing 1 and the support means 3, this support means 3 has an outer cylindrical wall formed with the bayonet slots 4 which respectively receive the pins 5 which are fixed to the exterior of the casing 1 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that in this way a removable connection is provided between the casing 1 and the support means 3.

The support means 3 has distant from its open end which receives the casing 1 a transverse wall provided with an integral inner projection situated in the hollow interior of the support means and with an integral outer projection extending outwardly from the transverse wall in a downward direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. An electrode means extends thro-ugh the inner and outer projections of the support means and downwardly beyond the outer projection thereof. This electrode means includes a pair of elongated electrically conductive electrodes 6 and 7. These electrodes 6 and 7 are made of anv suitable metal and are in the form of a pair of elongated channel members each of approximately semi-circular cross section, these channel members being spaced from each other. The support means is formed with a bore passing through its inner and outer projections, and it is in this bore that the electrodes 6 and 7 are situated fixed in any suitable way to the inner surface of the support means 3 which defines the bore thereof which extends through the inner and outer projections.

At their bottom ends which are situated downwardly beyond the support means, the electrodes 6 and 7 fixedly carry a spiral filament 8 which is electrically conductive and which in accordance with one feature of the invention is made of an alloy containing 80% platinum and 20% iridium.

The electrode means 6, 7 and the filament 8 form part of an electrical circuit which when closed energizes the filament 8 so that it is then capable of igniting a combusti -ble gas. This electrical circuit includes a central contact 9 situated between and spaced from the electrodes 6 and 7 and electrically connected with and carried by the electrode 6. The pole A of the battery 2 engages the central contact 9. The inner projection of the support means 3 which is situated within the hollow interior thereof has an exterior surface portion carrying a second electrical contact 10 which is shown in FIG. 2 at the right side of the inner projection of the support means 3. An elongated electrically conductive leaf spring 11 has, as viewed in FIG. 2, a bottom free end situated beside the contact 10 and capable of being displaced into engagement therewith for closing the circuit, and this elongated electrically conductive leaf spring 11 extends along the interior of the battery casing 1 longitudinally thereof and is situated against an inner surface of the casing 1 to which the leaf spring 11 is fixed by a rivet 12 situated between the ends ofthe leaf spring 11.

A wall portion of the battery casing 1, situated beneath the rivet 12, is formed with an opening through which a push-button 13 freely extends so as to be accessible at the exterior of the casing 1, and this push-button 13 is riveted at its inner end directly to the leaf spring 11 and is also made of an electrically non-conductive material. Thus, the operator, when grasping the casing 1 which also acts as a grip, can depress the button 13 to place the bottom free end of the leaf spring 11 in engagement with the contact 10.

The top end of the leaf spring 11 is fixed to a coil spring 14 which is electrically conductive and which is compressed between the top closed end of the casing 1 and the pole B, so as to be in electrical connection with this pole B. The spring 14 also functions to press the pole A against the central contact 9. Thus, when the operator depresses the button 13 to place the bottom end of the leaf spring 11 in engagement with the contact 10, the circuit will be completed through the battery and through the electrodes to energize the filament 8.

A stirrup-shaped wire metal member 15 has a swivel connection with the top, closed end of the battery casing 1, the springy member 15 having inwardly directed ends received in suitable openings of the battery casing, so that by way of this member 15 the entire ignitor can be conveniently supported.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention an elongated straight tube 16 of substantial length is fixed at its inner end to the support means 3, and this tube surrounds the filament 8 which is situated in the interior of the tube 16 in the region of the inner end thereof. The outer end 17 of the tube 16 is fully open and is of an outwardly flaring configuration, having the shape of a truncated cone, and of course this outer end 17 of the tube 16, which may be made of any suitable metal, is situated distant from the support means 3. At the region of its inner end the tube 16 is formed with a plurality of openings 18 providing communication between the interior and exterior of the tube, so that a gas which is to be ignited can flow through the openings 18 past the filament 8 and through the outer open end 17 of the tube. The outwardly flaring configuration of this outer end 17 of the tube 16 enables the tube to act in the nature of a venturi, thus promoting the flow of combustible gas which is capable of being ignited by the filament 8. It is to be noted that the filament 8 is situated between the openings 18 and the outer open end 17 of the tube 16 in the path of gas flow.

Thus, with this construction the operator can grasp the casing 1 and depress the button 13 to energize the filament 8, and of course the' circuit will automatically open when the operator releases the button 13. Because of the distance of the end 17 from the casing 1 the operator is protected from any flame while at the same time the device can very conveniently be used for gas-ignition purposes. Furthermore, the situation of the filament 8 in the region of the inner end of the tube 16 enables the filament 8 to be protected to a very great extent by the tube. In addition, the use of the alloy of platinum and iridium provides the filament with a long operating life.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS, 3 and 4, the support means is formed by an outer body 19 and an inner body 21 in the form of an insert capable of being introduced into and removed from the outer body 19, and both of these ibodies which form the support means 19, 21 are made of an electrically nonconductive material such as a suitable plastic. The outer hollow body 19 of the support means has a hollow interior in which is situated the larger end of the inner body 21, this larger end forming the inner projection of the support means, and it will be noted that this inner projec tion extends from a transverse wall of the outer body 19. This outer body 19 has a hollow tubular extension extending into and fixed to the inner end of the tube 20 which is identical with the tube 16, so that in this way the tube 20 of FIG. 3 is also fixedly carried by the support means with the inner end of the tube 20 fixed to the support means and with the outer open, outwardly flaring end thereof situated distant from the support means. The outwardly directed tubular portion of the body 19 which is received in the inner end of the tube 20 surrounds and has a press fit with the smaller elongated portion of the body 21, and it is this smaller portion of the body 21 together with the outer tubular wall of the body 19 which form the outer projection of the support means extending outwardly from the transverse wall thereof into the hollow interior of the tube 20 at its inner end. Thus, the body 21 provides an inner portion of the outer projection which is separate from the outer tubular wall of this outer projection, this outer tubular wall being integral with the remainder of the body 19, and the smaller-diameter portion of the body 21 has a press fit in the outer tubular wall at the bottom end of the body 19, as viewed in FIG. 3.

In this embodiment the filament 22 may be made of the same material as the filament 8 and is also of a spiral configuration, and theI electrode means takes the form of a pair of elongated electrically conductive members 23 and 24 which extend downwardly beyond the body 21 where the free ends of the electrodes fixedly carry the filament 22 so that in this case also the filament 22 will be spaced beyond the support means and surrounded by the tube 20 at the region of the inner end thereof, and at the region of this inner end the tube 20 is also formed with a plurality of openings through which the combustible gas can flow so as to engage the filament 22 and be ignited when the filament 22 is energized.

The electrodes 23 and 24 are embedded directly in the body 21, and the electrode 23 is electrically connected with a central contact 25 carried by the body 21 at its inner projection and at the upper end face of this inner projection so that the central contact 25 is situated in the hollow interior of the support means to be engaged by the pole AV of the battery 2 which is used with the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. The other electrode 24 is electrically connected with the second contact 26 in the form of a ring of electrically conductive material surrounding the exterior surface of the inner larger projection of the body 21, and of course this contact 26 is capable of being engaged by the bottom free end of the leaf spring 11.

Except for these differences the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is identical with that of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is operated in the same way.'Thus, the outer cylindrical wall of the body 19 is formed with the bayonet slots which receive the bayonet pins of the casing 1 in the same Way as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows mounted on the insert body 21a protective cover 27 which will protect the filament 22 during shipment or other handling of the body 21 separate from the remainder of the assembly shown in FIG. 3. When the device is to be used the protective cover 27, which may be made of any suitable plastic or the like, is removed, and the body 21 is inserted into the body 19 to have the position shown in FIG. 3 and to form therewith the support means of theI embodiment of FIG. 3.

Thus, the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 has all of the advantages of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 but presents the additional advantage of making it very easy t0 replace the filament 22 Whenever required. Thus, whenever the filament 22 breaks down the operator can easily remove' one insert 21 and replace it by another insert carrying the contacts, electrodes, and filament shown in FIG. 4, so that in this quick, simple -manner it is possible to replace a filament with the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gas ignitor, an electrically conductive filament for igniting a combustible gas when said filament is energized, electrode means carrying said filament and forming therewith part of an electrical circuit which, when closed, energizes said filament, support means supporting said electrode means with said filament situated beyond and spaced from said support means, and an elongated hollow tube carried by said support means and surrounding said filament, said tube having an inner end connected with said support means and an outer open end distant from said support means and said filament being situated in said tube at the region of said inner end thereof, said tube being formed at the region of said inner end thereof with at least one opening passing through said tube to provide communicating between the interior and exterior of said tube so that the combustible gas will flow through said tube to engage said filament in the region of said inner end thereof to be ignited when the filament is energized, said support means having a hollow interior and a transverse wall separating said hollow interior of said support means from said tube, and said support means having an outer projection extending from said transverse wall into said tube at said inner end thereof and to which sa'id tube is fixed, said support means also having an inner projection extending from said transverse wall and situated in the hollow interior of said support means, and both of said projections having a common axis coinciding with the axis of said tube, said electrode means including a pair of electrodes extending through both of said projections and beyond said outer projection into the interior of said tube where said electrodes carry said filament, said inner projection carrying at said axis a central electrical contact connected electrically with one of said electrodes and said inner projection having an exterior surface portion carrying a second contact connected electrically with the other of said electrodes, said contacts bQh forming part of said electrical circuit.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said projections and transverse wall are all integral with each other and formta one-piece body of said support means.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said inner projection is separate from and engages said transverse lwall in the hollow interior of said support means while said outer projection includes an outer tubular wall integral with said transverse wall and extending into and fixed to said tube as well as an inner body extending with a press fit into said tubular wall and integrally joined to said inner projection, so that said inner and outer projections can be removed from and inserted into said support means, said electrodes extending through said inner body.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an outer elongated battery casing is removably connected to said support means and communicates with the hollow interior thereof, said battery casing extending from said support means in a direction opposed to the direction in which said tube extends therefrom, at least one battery in said casing and having at one end a pole engaging said central contact carried by said inner projection, said battery having at its opposite end a pole opposed to said pole at said one end thereof, a spring in said casing engaging said pole at said Opposite end of said battery and urging said battery toward said central contact, said spring being electrically conductive, an elongated electrically conductive leaf spring extending lonigtudinally along the interior of said casing, having one end engaging said spring and having an opposite end situated beside the contact located at the exterior surface portion of said inner projection, said casing having a wall portion formed with an opening extending therethrough, and a button extending through said opening of said wall portion of said casing and fixed to said leaf spring so that the operator by depressing said button can displace said leaf spring into engagement with said contact at said exterior surface portion of said inner projection to close said circuit and energize said filament.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,898,418 2/ 1933 Zwilling 219-268 2,487,752 11/1949 Cohn 317-98 X 319,380 6/1885 Arnould 219-268 2,373,766 4/ 1945 McCollum 431-263 X 2,487,754 11/ 1949 Cohn 431-193 2,850,084 9/ 1958 Kunzler 431-263 2,967,224 1/ 1961 Irvin 317-98 3,298,420 1/ 1967 Blanzy 431-191 FOREIGN PATENTS v314,773 6/ 1929 Great Britain.

552,594 4/ 1943 Great Britain.

559,710 3/1953 Italy.

971,664 8/ 1950 France.

VOLODYMYR Y. MAYEWSKY, Primary Examiner.

Us. c1. XR. t9-68, gm; 317-95; 431-191, 26g 

